Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Blake Snell

Discover the career path of Blake Snell, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Blake Snell is a professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB. He previously played for the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. Snell is an American professional baseball pitcher.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2011: Signed with the Rays and Professional Debut

In 2011, Blake Snell signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for a $684,000 bonus after being drafted. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Rays, recording a 1–2 record with a 3.08 ERA in 11 games.

2011: Drafted by the Rays

In 2011, Blake Snell was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.

2012: Season with the Princeton Rays

In 2012, Blake Snell played with the Princeton Rays, achieving a 5–1 record and a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts, showcasing his continued development in the minor leagues.

2013: Season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods

In 2013, Blake Snell played with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, where he compiled a 4–9 record and a 4.27 ERA in 23 starts, contributing to his ongoing growth as a pitcher.

2014: Promotion to Charlotte Stone Crabs and No-Hitter

In 2014, Blake Snell began the season with Bowling Green and was later promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs in May. On August 2, he pitched a rain-shortened no-hitter against the Daytona Cubs, the first in Stone Crabs history. He finished the year with an 8-8 record and a 3.19 ERA across 24 starts and was named the Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Year after the season.

2015: Multiple Promotions and Minor League Pitcher of the Year

In 2015, Blake Snell started the season with the Stone Crabs and was promoted to the Montgomery Biscuits after not allowing any runs in 21 innings. He was later promoted to the Durham Bulls. He finished the season with a 15-4 record and a 1.41 ERA across 25 games and was named the USA Today Minor League Pitcher of the Year. The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

April 23, 2016: MLB Debut

On April 23, 2016, Blake Snell made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium. Although he allowed a run off a wild pitch in the first inning, he struck out the side in the second inning, and his first major league strikeout was of Brian McCann.

2016: Season with Durham

In 2016, Blake Snell began the season with Durham, where he made 12 starts and had a 3–5 record with a 3.29 ERA, preparing him for his eventual call-up to the major leagues.

2016: MLB Debut with the Rays

In 2016, Blake Snell made his Major League Baseball debut with the Tampa Bay Rays, marking a significant milestone in his career.

2017: Demotion and Recall

In 2017, Blake Snell struggled at the beginning of the season, posting a 4.71 ERA through eight starts. He was demoted to Durham on May 13, but was recalled on June 28 and finished the season with a 5–1 record and a 3.31 ERA in 24 starts, recording 119 strikeouts over 129+1⁄3 innings with a 4.04 ERA.

2018: Cy Young Award and All-Star Season

In 2018, Blake Snell won the American League Cy Young Award. He was also an All-Star, leading the league in wins and earned run average (ERA).

2018: Tying AL Record Against Seattle Mariners

In 2018, On June 3, Blake Snell tied an AL record by striking out the first seven batters he faced in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. He allowed no runs in six innings and recorded 12 strikeouts. It was his first career start at Safeco Field and the first professional start witnessed by his grandfather.

March 21, 2019: Five-Year Contract with the Rays

On March 21, 2019, Blake Snell agreed to a five-year contract worth $50 million with the Tampa Bay Rays, which was the largest deal given to a major league pitcher before they reached salary arbitration.

December 29, 2020: Traded to the Padres

On December 29, 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres in exchange for prospects Luis Patiño, Blake Hunt, and Cole Wilcox, along with catcher Francisco Mejía.

2020: World Series Controversy

In the 2020 World Series, Blake Snell started Game 6 for the Rays. Despite pitching a shutout with two hits and nine strikeouts through 5+1⁄3 innings, he was controversially pulled from the game by manager Kevin Cash, leading to the Dodgers winning the game and the World Series.

2021: Trade to the Padres

Before the 2021 season, Blake Snell was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the San Diego Padres, marking a new chapter in his MLB career.

2022: Season with Padres

In 2022, Blake Snell's preparations were interrupted by a lockout. After going to the injured list, Snell returned to the starting rotation on May 18. He made 24 starts in 2022, with an 8-10 record and 3.38 ERA. He made three starts in the postseason.

2023: Cy Young Award and Free Agency

In 2023, Blake Snell had an outstanding season, leading Major League Baseball in ERA (2.25) and hits-per-nine-innings (5.8). He rejected a $20.25 million qualifying offer from the Padres to become a free agent. On November 15, 2023, he won the NL Cy Young Award, receiving 28 out of 30 first-place votes, marking his second Cy Young Award.

2023: Second Cy Young Award

In 2023, Blake Snell won his second Cy Young Award, solidifying his status as one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball.

2023: Contract Duration with Rays

In 2023, Blake Snell's five-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays concluded, marking the end of that specific chapter in his career.

March 19, 2024: Signed with the Giants

On March 19, 2024, Blake Snell signed a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, which included an opt-out after the first year.

April 8, 2024: Debut with the Giants

On April 8, 2024, Blake Snell made his debut with the San Francisco Giants against the Washington Nationals. He pitched three innings and allowed three earned runs, taking the loss.

November 1, 2024: Opt-Out and Free Agency

On November 1, 2024, Blake Snell opted out of his contract with the Giants and became a free agent, exploring new opportunities in his baseball career.

November 30, 2024: Signed with the Dodgers

On November 30, 2024, Blake Snell signed a five-year contract worth $182 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included a $52 million signing bonus and a conditional $10 million option for 2030.

2024: Snell signed with the Giants and Threw a No-Hitter

In 2024, Blake Snell signed with the San Francisco Giants. He also threw a no-hitter on August 2 against the Cincinnati Reds, marking a significant achievement.